good but not perfect ...

Some consider today a holiday – so, so will I. I grabbed my shotgun and headed to the `Western Frontier’. There a couple guys set up for geese to the west – fine! - they would have kept anything from settling on that stretch. I would hunt the stretch upstream. It was somewhat close – and – if they had done any shooting – it could have knocked the birds off the creek … on the other hand, if they got in, and were under the bank, they might have stayed.


The ground was frozen and going good. Interestingly, the one spot where I had murdered so many ducks in earlier years, was different … small channel changes made it less of a `spot’ for ducks. But I kept looking. Under one cut bank I spotted a single green. Sweet.

I had total tactical advantage. The bird was right underneath a big (vertical) bank, and I was unseen. I backed out and considered my options. Straight on would mean the bird(s) would likely flush with road and housing in the background. Though not a `dangerous’ situation, due to sufficient distance, I just assume not shoot toward houses or roads. If I approach from the west – the bird(s) would probably flush upstream - major cattail situation. I decided to swing around and come from the north. Flushing left they would be over a field – straight away they would be south and over creek and manageable streamside vegetation – or if right over field.

I came over the bank and found a green and a hen. They spied me and just looked. Perhaps it was the maroon sweater I obtained for Christmas. Finally they flushed. I took the green as they were going out straight away, pretty close, and was thinking I would get both in one shot – but only the green toppled. The hen then swung right and over the field and I dropped her, also. She appeared hit hard enough so I swung my attention back to the drake – and he was in the water, dead, near the other side. I went to the hen and killed her, marked the location of the green, and then went back down to the bridge where I was parked, dropped the hen off, and got the green.

Then I hunted the flats, nothin’.

I decided to drive over to the (other) creek.

`Green’! But I didn’t have permission yet. So I went into town and found Richard’s number in the phone book and gave him a call. He said I could hunt that stretch through the end of the season.

I drove back out, checked to make sure the ducks were still there (recon from the road), and then made the sneak.

I overshot their location, slightly, but was still within good killing distance. At the flush a green went out left and I dumped him. I clobbered a green hard flying straight away. The majority of the birds flushed slightly right and right directly into the sun. I picked a third green and dumped him.

My attention went back to the first bird. I chambered a round and headed upstream. He was dead enough. I then turned to the third bird – upside down in the stream – sweet! The second bird, which I assumed would be the deadest – was nowhere to be found. I looked and looked. This is the most perplexing portion of stream for recovering birds. There is no place to hide – yet this would be the second bird I would lose. Crap, amazing. I searched both sides, and into the field – found feathers, but not the bird. Dang!

I hate it when I lose a bird. I am a perfectionist. And losing a bird is way below perfect … especially after a perfect double.

I should have made the jump from the other side – sun behind me.

UGHHHHHH!
So it is.


Endnote: The only thing I can figure is that at close range I obliterated a wing, but left the creature otherwise mobile for land and water. While I went to get the first bird he made is dash. In that area the birds know there is no cover, and thus often make it to the water, go under, and hold on.

I will go back this evening – and look around some more.